Patents Examined by Zemenay Truneh
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Patent number: 9862276Abstract: A vehicle power system includes a controller configured to issue commands to open a selected set of switches of an inverter and then to operate the selected set of switches according to a pulse width modulation signal having an increasing duty cycle such that input current to a battery is driven towards zero and a magnitude of d-axis current of the drive system is reduced in response to a fault with an electric drive system.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Lihua Chen, Yan Zhou, Shuitao Yang
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Patent number: 9859832Abstract: A multiphase electric motor control device includes: a bridge circuit including phase circuits each including a high potential side switching element, a low potential side switching element, and a current detector, a PWM control unit that outputs PWM signals to the switching elements; a control unit that acquires phase current values at a timing synchronized with a triangle wave; and a current value estimation unit that estimates a phase current value of one phase based on phase current values of other phases. In a case where an ON time of the PWM signal output to the low potential side switching element of the one phase from the PWM control unit is shorter than a predetermined time, the control unit acquires the phase current values which are detected by shifting the timing by using the current detectors of at least the other phases.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: OMRON AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventor: Yoji Mori
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Patent number: 9837951Abstract: A motor apparatus and a motor control method are provided. The method includes the following steps. An actual speed and an actual current of a motor module are sensed by a sensor module. An adjusted speed is kept at a set speed or a speed curve by a speed adjusting circuit. A control signal is provided by a feedback control circuit according to a difference between the adjusted speed and the actual speed. The control signal is converted to a current to drive the motor module, such that the actual speed is kept at the adjusted speed. When the actual speed is decreased and the actual current is increased to a limited current value, a setting parameter of the feedback controller is changed according to the limited current value, such that the control signal enters a saturation state and the actual current is kept at the limited current value.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Kinpo Electronics, Inc.Inventor: Chuan-Chia Tsui
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Patent number: 9831805Abstract: A method for acquiring a constant torque of an ECM, the method including: A) acquiring a target torque value T0 input from external; B) when the motor is in a non-use state, operating the motor and acquiring an initial rotational speed rpm by the microprocessor; and when the motor is in an operating state, acquiring a current rotational speed rpm by the microprocessor; C) calculating a corresponding target bus current value Itad by the microprocessor using the function of a DC bus current Itad=F(T, rpm) according to the target torque T0 and acquired rotational speed rpm, in which T represents a torque value output by the motor; and D) comparing the target bus current Itad with a real-time bus current Ibus by the microprocessor in a closed-loop control according to the detected real-time bus current Ibus.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: ZHONGSHAN BROAD-OCEAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Wenqing Bian
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Patent number: 9827668Abstract: A joint includes: a motor coupled to the joint, the motor configured to move the joint; a joint side sensor configured to measure a parameter of interest of a joint side target; a motor side sensor configured to measure the parameter of interest of the motor; and a controller configured to control the motor, the controller operably connected to the joint side sensor, the controller operably connected to the motor side sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Fetch Robotics, Inc.Inventors: Derek King, Eric Diehr
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Patent number: 9825575Abstract: A power converting apparatus outputs an alternating-current power to drive an electric motor, and includes: a switching circuit that converts an input direct-current power to an alternating-current power based on driving of MOS-FETs and outputs the alternating-current power; and a driving control unit capable of controlling a carrier frequency and controlling the driving of the MOS-FETs. The driving control unit controls the carrier frequency on the basis of a noise level of a carrier noise obtained by combining noises that occur in the electric motor and the power converting apparatus due to the driving of the MOS-FETs at the carrier frequency and a noise level of driving noises from a plurality of noise sources that occur irrespective of the carrier frequency in the same housing in which the power converting apparatus and the electric motor are contained.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takashi Yamakawa, Koichi Arisawa, Kazunori Hatakeyama, Yosuke Shinomoto
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Patent number: 9819294Abstract: An inverter control apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The inverter control apparatus and a control method thereof stably operate a three-phase motor using a capacitor having a small capacitance for a DC link. The inverter control apparatus includes a current sensor to sense an output current of the inverter, a voltage sensor to sense a DC-link voltage of the inverter, and a controller to generate an average of a periodically varying rotor based q-axis current boundary value based on the output current and the DC-link voltage to generate a current reference on the basis of the average of the rotor based q-axis current boundary value, and to drive a three-phase motor based on the current reference. Stabilized variable speed control of a motor by using a small-capacitance capacitor for a DC link of an inverter is performed and reliability of an inverter circuit improved.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SNU R&DB FOUNDATIONInventors: Young Jae Park, Han Sol Seo, Bodrov Alexey, Seung Ki Sul, Hyun-Sam Jung, Seung-Jun Chee
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Patent number: 9819298Abstract: A circuit arrangement (1) for operating an electric machine. The circuit arrangement (1) includes at least one high-voltage half-bridge circuit (2), which has a high-side semiconductor switch (3) and a low-side semiconductor switch (4). In each case one gate driver (5, 6) is assigned to the semiconductor switches (3, 4) for actuating said semiconductor switches, and includes a low-voltage controller (7), which actuates the gate drivers (5, 6). A high-voltage controller (11) senses output signals (AS) of the gate drivers (5, 6) and transmits at least the sensed output signals (AS) to the low-voltage controller (7) using a data bus (12).Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Stefan Aldinger, Stefan Butzmann, Tobias Richter
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Patent number: 9806651Abstract: A direct current electrical machine, which includes a rotor that generates a rotor magnetic field, a first commutation cell that includes a winding component, a first switching device, and a second switching device. The first winding component includes a first portion electrically coupled between a first terminal and a second terminal of the first winding component and a second portion electrically coupled between a third terminal and the second terminal of the first winding component. The first switching device is electrically coupled to the first terminal and is closed when a first voltage induced across the first portion by rotation of the rotor magnetic field is positive; and the second switching device is electrically coupled to the third terminal and is closed when a second voltage induced across the second portion by the rotation of the rotor magnetic field is negative.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Pierluigi Tenca, Konrad Roman Weeber
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Patent number: 9800183Abstract: An inverter electrically operatively connected to an electric machine and in communication with a controller is described. The inverter is electrically connected to a high-voltage DC power bus. A method for controlling the multi-phase inverter circuit includes monitoring, via the controller, a rotational speed of the electric machine during operation of the inverter in an over-modulation mode. The inverter is commanded to operate in a linear modulation mode when the rotational speed is within a speed range associated with objectionable audible noise generated by operating the electric machine in the over-modulation mode.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jianglin Wang, Bon Ho Bae, Chia-Chou Yeh
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Patent number: 9793833Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is an energy recovery system, for an electric motor, that uses the properties of dynamic braking to directly recharge a capacitive load made up of energy storage devices. The system contains switching circuitry that configures the energy storage devices into a capacitive load when braking is needed. Otherwise, the system configures the energy storage devices into a power supply for regular motor operation.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Inventor: Jonathan David Johnson
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Patent number: 9780708Abstract: A control device for a stepper motor drives in a 1-2-phase excitation method in response to an input of a drive signal. The control device includes a control signal generating unit and a drive signal generating unit. The control signal generating unit generates a pulsed control signal. The drive signal generating unit generates the drive signal for rotating by a predetermined step angle every time the control signal is input. The predetermined step angle is a half of a step angle of a 2-phase excitation method. The control signal generating unit configures a higher pulse rate of a first to an n-th (n is an integer equal to or more than 2 and equal to or less than 3) control signals in an activation period of the stepper motor than a pulse rate of the control signals following the n-th control signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.Inventor: Hirotaka Ishida
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Patent number: 9755554Abstract: A method for controlling a switch that controls a power supply line of an electric motor from an alternating voltage source, including determination of a switch closing instant (tf) starting from a measurement of the derivative of the current carried on the power supply line. A starter system and a computer program product are capable of using this method.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SASInventors: Delcho Penkov, Alain Dentella, Yann Herriot
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Patent number: 9751209Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus including a frame, at least one arm link rotatably connected to the frame and a shaftless drive section. The shaftless drive section including stacked drive motors for rotating the at least one arm link relative to the frame through a shaftless interface, each of the stacked drive motors including a stator having stator coils disposed on a fixed post fixed relative to the frame and a rotor substantially peripherally surrounding the stator such that the rotor is connected to a respective one of the at least one arm link for rotating the one of the at least one arm link relative to the frame causing an extension or retraction of the one of the at least one arm link, where the stacked drive motors are disposed in the at least one arm link so that part of each stator is within a common arm link.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.Inventor: Robert T. Caveney
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Patent number: 9748877Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method for driving a motor includes determining a position of a first pole of a rotor of the motor relative to a position of a Hall sensor. A drive signal is generated in response to the position of the first pole of the rotor of the motor, the drive signal having a duty in accordance with the duty control signal or a second duty control signal. In accordance with another embodiment, a drive circuit for a motor includes a state controller connected to a rotational state generation unit, a pulse width modulation detection circuit, and a duty control controller. An align duty set circuit is connected to the duty control controller.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Takashi Ogawa
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Patent number: 9742329Abstract: A motor controller that includes a processing device and a drive circuit. The drive circuit may include a plurality of switches, a motor winding, and a current sensor coupled together in an H-bridge configuration. The processing device is configured to cause a drive current to drive through the motor winding for a minimum amount of time. The processing device is also configured to compare the current through the current sensor to a threshold value at the minimum amount of time. The processing device is also configured to, based on the current being at or above the threshold value at the minimum amount of time, stop the drive current for an off period of time and cause a first decay of the current for a first percentage of the off period of time and a first slow decay for a second percentage of the off period of time.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Sudhir Nagaraj, Anuj Jain
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Patent number: 9742327Abstract: A motor drive controller includes: a motor driver that applies a voltage to each phase of a motor to rotate; a rotational position detector that detects rotational position of the motor and generates rotational position information indicating the rotational position; and a controller that outputs, to the motor driver, driving control signals for repeatedly adjusting an advance angle and a lag angle at energization switching of the each phase of the motor in a prescribed pattern based on the rotational position information generated by the rotational position detector.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Kaidu, Yuji Omura, Kouji Kebukawa, Masato Aoki
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Patent number: 9738163Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an electric drive. The electric drive may include a first power inverter, a second power inverter, and a positive DC bus connecting the first power inverter and the second power inverter. The electric drive may also include a first switch connected to the positive DC bus between the first power inverter and the second power inverter. The electric drive may include a second switch connected to the positive DC bus between the first power inverter and the second power inverter. The electric drive may further include a control unit connected to the first switch and to the second switch. The control unit may be configured to selectively allow current to pass through the first switch and the second switch.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Rodwan Tarek Adra, Thomas Michael Sopko, Jr., Jackson Wai, Carlos Eduardo Nino Baron
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Patent number: 9742316Abstract: The invention relates to a method of starting an electric motor (10) powered by an alternating power supply voltage, said method consisting of supplying current to the motor (10) with a delay tret, during each period of the power supply voltage. The starting method comprises a first sequence in which the following steps are carried out during each nth period of the power supply voltage, where n is an integer number greater than 0: a) determine the value of a variation of a resistance of the electric motor during the previous n periods of the power supply voltage; b) compare said value of the variation of the determined motor resistance with a first threshold resistance value; c) if the value of the variation of the motor resistance is less than the first threshold value, reduce tret. The invention also relates to a starter device and a computer program.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SASInventors: Christophe Durand, Delcho Penkov
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Patent number: 9735716Abstract: A controller for controlling a multi-phase motor is described. The controller may be configured to drive a first virtual multi-phase motor in an active mode and drive a second virtual multi-phase motor in a passive mode. In the active mode, at least a portion of a reference torque is distributed to the first virtual multi-phase motor. In the passive mode, zero torque is distributed to the second virtual multi-phase motor.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Infineon Technologies AGInventors: Radovan Vuletic, Dian Tresna Nugraha